■Serialization/Junko Abe’s Trend Exploration Team

Elucidation of the mechanism of antitumor effect of instant grape seed components

In December 2020, the Nabeshima Laboratory at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and the Uto Laboratory at Tokushima University’s Faculty of Social and Industrial Science and Engineering conducted cancer cell experiments using a combination of “shunbud grape seed components” and various anticancer drugs. ～Implemented in June 2023.

As a result, it was found that using this ingredient dramatically increases the cancer suppressing effect compared to using only anticancer drugs. In particular, it has been confirmed that it is approximately 10 times more effective against hormone-positive breast cancer, which is the most common type of breast cancer.

A human clinical trial for breast cancer using capsules containing the same ingredient was conducted by Professor Alipov Gavit (currently Director of the Department of Cytology and Pathology at Almaty Regional Oncology Hospital) at the Kazakh State Kazakh Medical University Hospital, and the side effects of anticancer drugs. The results showed that 92% of the cases were suppressed.

These research results were presented at the 82nd Academic Meeting of the Japanese Cancer Society held in September. On September 22nd, the details of the research results on the composition of instant bud grape seeds originating from Japan will be presented by Specially Appointed Professor Yoichi Nabeshima of Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Professor Yoshihiro Uto of Tokushima University, Professor Alipov Gavit, and Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine. A press conference was held by Assistant Professor Chiaki Abe.

“Sprouting grape seed component” is a component extracted from grape seeds just before germination using a patented manufacturing method, and is also available in powdered and encapsulated form. When seeds germinate, they rapidly change from a dormant state to an activated state that promotes germination, so it is expected that they may contain various functional components that induce this change.

The constituents of budded grape seeds are expected to have diverse potential, including antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, allergy-suppressing activity, and anti-tumor activity, and are being pioneered by private companies and commercialized as supplements and cosmetics. There is also. The research presented this time focused on “antitumor activity (anticancer properties),” and the following results were announced.

Shunbud grape seed ingredient shows high antitumor activity against various cancer cells such as triple negative breast cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer, and prostate cancer. The cell death-inducing effect of cancer drug (doxorubicin) is synergistically enhanced. Doxorubicin has a similar enhancing effect on various cancer cell types, and it is presumed that the combination of the instant grape seed component and anticancer drugs has an effect on many cancer types.

A human clinical trial was conducted by Dr. Alipov of the Kazakh Medical University and his colleagues, and the administration of budding grape seed components significantly reduced the side effects of anticancer drugs by 92%, and improved QOL.

Currently, clinical trials are followed-up for three and a half years, and results are generally compared based on the results after five years, but patient survival rates remain high.

Although the mechanism underlying the antitumor activity of the components of flashbud grape seeds is still under analysis, it is possible that “apoptosis,” a spontaneous cell death that occurs to maintain life, and “apoptosis,” a controlled form of necrosis (uncontrolled cell death). Simultaneous inhibition of “necroptosis” suppressed cell death caused by the components of grape seeds. This suggests that inducing both apoptosis and necroptosis pathways causes cell death = antitumor activation.

“Is the combination effect of budding grape seed ingredients and anticancer drugs universal?The analysis used doxorubicin, which is used to treat breast cancer, and the same results could be obtained with other anticancer drugs. Whether this can be achieved is an issue that needs to be resolved in the future.

Through human clinical trials, we need to thoroughly verify the antitumor activity, enhancement effect of anticancer drugs, and reduction of side effects of the components of instant grape seeds, and we are planning the next clinical trial.

In order to take the next step, which is drug development, it is necessary to elucidate the reaction mechanism and point of action of the components of instant grape seeds, and to elucidate the actual antitumor activity contained in the components of grape seeds.

A noteworthy new point discovered this time is that an unusual mechanism of programmed death involving both apoptosis and necroptosis may be linked to strong anticancer activity. Furthermore, cell experiments have shown that it is effective regardless of the type of cancer, and that it is also effective against triple-negative breast cancer cells.

We currently believe that the mechanism for alleviating the side effects of anticancer drugs and suppressing cancer may be the same, but further verification is required. At least one point is mitochondria, and I think this will be a very important target.

In healthy people, mitochondrial activation generates vitality, but cancer reduces the number of mitochondria or suppresses their activation.

The instant grape seed component has a very high mitochondrial activation effect, and whether this will lead to anti-cancer effects will be a major point of interest, so we will investigate this point in the future.

Instant bud grape seeds are a component of plant seeds. I would like to continue this research as a “seed that will lead to the future of cancer patients.” (Mr. Uto)

Side effects are a concern, but no side effects have been reported with commercially available supplements and serums.

“Side effects need to be considered separately for healthy people and cancer patients, but companies that sell supplements that use flashbud grape seeds receive feedback in the form of customer reports, and the reports include improvements. We have received a variety of opinions, including things that happened unexpectedly, which have provided us with great hints for our research.There were no reports of side effects among the customer reports, and we are very encouraged. (Mr. Nabeshima)

“Four pancreatic cancer patients are taking a combination of anti-cancer drugs and a supplement containing instant grape seed ingredients.One has just started taking it, but three are very satisfied with it. It’s having good effects.

One of them was a patient at a national university hospital, and although hospitals often dislike the idea of ​​taking anticancer drugs and supplements together, he was allowed to take them together with his doctor’s permission.

We have a track record of actually using this product on patients with pancreatic cancer at the university hospitals we work with. Pancreatic cancer is highly resistant and is often already at stage 4 when it is discovered, with a life expectancy of less than a year, but the symptoms improved when combined with anti-cancer drugs, and one patient’s numbers improved. has dropped to normal. I think this is a noteworthy example.” (Mr. Uto)

“This does not mean that it is effective for all cancer patients; there are some cases where it has a positive effect, and unfortunately there are others for whom it does not work.

We would like to develop the drug so that it is effective for people with severe symptoms such as pancreatic cancer, poor quality lung cancer, and brain cancer, but it is not just that everyone can take it; some are effective and others are not. We would like to continue researching and developing methods for sorting food.” (Mr. Nabeshima)

[Reading by AJ] Expectations for “shunbud grape seed ingredient” that has various possibilities

In this presentation, it was reported that ingesting the components of instant grape seeds can enhance the effectiveness of anticancer drugs and significantly reduce side effects. It has also been suggested that it may have antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-aging activity. In fact, among beauty enthusiasts who are sensitive to beauty information, antioxidant supplements and gels made from instant grape seed ingredients are known as anti-aging ingredients, and they are not only anti-cancer, but also effective against skin problems and anti-aging. Expectations are also high.

“As we presented at the 50th Japanese Society of Skin Immunology and Allergy, we found that using instant grape seed ingredients in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis can significantly suppress itching and lower atopic markers in the blood. We are already collaborating with a professor of dermatology at a national university hospital, and are on the verge of producing a paper.

Additionally, there have been several reports of cancer patients suffering from rough skin due to the effects of anti-cancer drugs using a serum made from instant grape seeds, which immediately suppressed the rough skin.” (Uto) Mr)

Although it is used in some free clinics for atopic dermatitis, there are no pharmaceutical products available, and the company plans to further elucidate the mechanisms and issues surrounding the components of the instant grape seeds in the future with the aim of commercializing them as pharmaceuticals. .

Text/Junko Abe